Four questions, biometric checks: EU border rules for Eurostar travellers

Britons travelling on the Eurostar will face new border controls under the European Union’s Entry/Exit System starting next month. From October 12, passengers at London St Pancras will be asked four questions about their trip abroad: whether they have booked an overnight stay, whether they hold a return ticket, whether they have medical or travel insurance, and whether they have enough money to cover the trip. If a passenger answers no to any question, they will be unable to use the electronic gates and must speak with a French border control officer, potentially slowing their journey. Those who answer yes will be able to use the electronic gates as usual.

The changes are expected to add about 10 minutes to Eurostar check-in times. Initially, the system will be rolled out to business and premium-class passengers. Standard-class travellers will begin using the new procedures on January 12, with a recommendation to arrive at St Pancras at least 75 minutes before departure. The new rules will also apply to travellers entering Europe from the Port of Dover and the Channel Tunnel at Folkestone from next month, under the same EES framework.

Biometric checks, including fingerprints and photographs, will replace passport stamps at the border in an effort to bolster security. Learnt procedures reiterate that fingerprints will be collected at dedicated booths and will be used for a set period, with children under 12 exempt from fingerprinting. At St Pancras, authorities have installed 49 kiosks for UK passport holders to undergo face recognition, fingerprinting, and passport scans, a project costing roughly £11 million. At Folkestone, the cross-Channel operation expects to process about 700 vehicles per hour at peak times using 224 kiosks.

Officials have sought to temper concerns about delays, with Eurotunnel chief executive Yann Leriche saying the impact on waiting times should be minimal, estimating an average of about two minutes extra per person at Folkestone and Calais. The fingerprint service is designed for a one-time enrollment, valid for three years, and the policy excludes children under 12 from fingerprint collection.

For travellers planning future trips, government guidance explains that, once EES is introduced, passengers may need to create a digital record during their first visit to the Schengen area, typically on arrival at a port or airport. The process will involve submitting fingerprints and having a photo taken at dedicated booths, but travellers will not be required to provide information before departure. If flying to a Schengen country, checks will be completed upon arrival in the destination country. These steps align with the broader EU push to digitalize and tighten border controls across member states; Britain remains outside the Schengen area but participates in the shared border framework for travelers entering the bloc.